Why do some nebulae form into stars while others remain diffuse?

  • Thread starter Nova
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Kaplan, there are different factors at play when it comes to the formation of nebulae. The "cloud" like structure of nebulae does not always collapse into a sphere because the gravitation forces may not be strong enough. In some cases, the nebulae are too diffuse for the forces to pull them together. However, in cases where the nebulae are dense enough, they eventually collapse into stars. This can be seen in the Trapesium in the Orion Nebula, where hot young stars are formed. In summary, the formation of nebulae into a sphere is dependent on various factors such as density and gravitation forces.
  • #1
Nova
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Since Nebulae are in "cloud" like structures, why does it not form itself into a sphere based on the highest density of which the largest amount of mass is held? resembling an extremely large gas planet.
 
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  • #2
Welcome to PF!

Some nebulae are simply too diffuse for the gravitation forces to be high enough to pull them together...and ones that are dense enough eventually collapse into stars.
 
  • #3
russ_watters said:
Welcome to PF!

Some nebulae are simply too diffuse for the gravitation forces to be high enough to pull them together...and ones that are dense enough eventually collapse into stars.

yup
as with the hot young stars of the Trapesium in the Orion Nebula ( M42)

Dave
 

1. Why are nebulae located in clouds?

Nebulae are located in clouds because they are formed from the gas and dust found in these clouds. As these clouds collapse and condense, the gravitational force causes the gas and dust to clump together, forming a nebula.

2. What type of clouds are nebulae found in?

Nebulae are typically found in molecular clouds, which are large, dense clouds composed of molecular hydrogen and other molecules. These clouds can span hundreds of light years across and can contain enough material to form thousands of stars.

3. How do nebulae get their different colors?

Nebulae get their different colors from the types of gases and elements present within them. For example, a nebula with a lot of hydrogen gas will appear red, while a nebula with a high concentration of oxygen will appear blue.

4. Can we see nebulae with the naked eye?

Some nebulae are visible with the naked eye, depending on their size and brightness. For example, the Orion Nebula is easily visible in the night sky and is a popular target for amateur astronomers.

5. How do we know nebulae exist if they are invisible to the naked eye?

We are able to detect nebulae through various telescopes and instruments that are designed to capture different wavelengths of light. For example, infrared telescopes can detect the heat emitted by nebulae, allowing us to see them even if they are not visible to the naked eye.

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